Oh well...

awakefie · #1 08-21-2011, 10:20 PM

I thought I had a gig.

I posted an add on Craigslist that I had played in a classic rock band. I listed that I am not the greatest bass player but would work hard.

A local band responded saying they were a hobby band with day jobs and were in it for the fun.

They have 3 gigs coming up. I got a set list with 48 songs. I should have replied no thanks - 5 Elvis songs - 5 Van Morrison tunes. Classic rock, yes (great stuff) but not what I was used to playing (I played more 70s and 80s stuff).

I said I would do my best to learn them. I learned about 40 in about 2 weeks.

Tonight the guitar player called to say they're going in a new direction. I thanked him for his call and wished the band luck.

I have learned a few things: 1) classic rock is not the same to all (even though I had posted a partial ad list in my ad). 2) Don't waste others time by trying to learn that many songs in that short a period of time - no matter how enticing the gigs sound (I need to get way better before I take that on). 3) I appreciate people who are direct.

No real point, just learning as I go along.

Depth_Charge · #2 08-21-2011, 11:18 PM

Yeah man I here ya. Last weekend I dropped my whole life to drag the family 400km away to play a last minute fill in gig. Boy was I underprepared!! I had to cram like 10 songs I didn't know in less than a day, then when I got to the venue to set up (forty minutes before playing) we had some confusion over my "can play" lists - Somehow the band leader had a list of songs I couldn't play thinking they were the ones I could play. So we redo the set list and a minute before we get on as the drummer is warming up and the crowd walking towards the stage, the band leader pulls me aside and says:

"Now lets talk about the key changes".

Not only did I learn a valuable lesson about last minute drop-in gigs, after I got home I did my accounts and realised the lesson cost me over $400 to boot!

HugeInJapan · #3 08-21-2011, 11:23 PM

Sucks that you put in so much effort only to end up not getting the gig. But it's not a total loss, throw a few of those older songs in with a 70's and 80's set. The crowd might really love it.

awakefie · #4 08-21-2011, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HugeInJapan

Sucks that you put in so much effort only to end up not getting the gig. But it's not a total loss, throw a few of those older songs in with a 70's and 80's set. The crowd might really love it.

Putting in the hard work really pushed my skillset.

I like the idea of tossing in a few of the older stuff. It might also help land a pick-up gig or two.

Joe Nerve · #5 08-21-2011, 11:54 PM

I'd look at it as exercise. You absolutely had to grow and learn a lot by cramming 40 songs in 2 weeks.. If nothing else, ya learned ya can't do it.

But if you had to now learn 30 songs in the next 2 weeks I bet it would be a lot easier. And you know your limits. Sorry ya didn't get the gig, but I'd keep my chin up. You pushed your boundaries as far as they could go which is always a good thing IMO.

**Freddels** · #6 08-22-2011, 06:08 AM

You've added 40 or so tunes to your list. But, since you crammed them, you'll quickly forget them. If you don't have any other gigs, you should continue working on those tunes until they're ingrained in your head. Then if they're ever needed again, you'll really know them. Why just throw away the work you've already put in on them?

awakefie · #7 08-22-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

You've added 40 or so tunes to your list. But, since you crammed them, you'll quickly forget them. If you don't have any other gigs, you should continue working on those tunes until they're ingrained in your head. Then if they're ever needed again, you'll really know them. Why just throw away the work you've already put in on them?

A great point. Thanks..

TolerancEJ · #8 08-22-2011, 10:10 AM

I agree with those points as well. Unfortunate experience, nonetheless learning 40 songs may be handy in the future. You ever know.

For the first band I joined, I had to learn their existing originals, come up with basslines for 7 new originals of which they were in the process of recording a demo, and learn a 32 song setlist for a show coming up in 2 weeks. lol While it can seem overwhelming, I actually had fun during that time. Mind you, I did stay with the band for 5 years, which differs from your situation.

Thombas · #9 08-22-2011, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

You've added 40 or so tunes to your list. But, since you crammed them, you'll quickly forget them. If you don't have any other gigs, you should continue working on those tunes until they're ingrained in your head. Then if they're ever needed again, you'll really know them. Why just throw away the work you've already put in on them?

+1
I joined a cover band a couple of years ago, where the concept was, that the customer put together a setlist from our www, where they have 200+ options. When I joined, I naturally had to learn 200+ songs. I worked my butt of for some months, and I've kept rehearsing the hole repertoire over the years, even if we wearn't playing them live in THAT band: I suddenly had a prettl big catalogue, that has given me some good spin off sub-gigs over the years.